Sunday, June 01, 2014

Mets News and Notes: Mets Scolded for Leaving Field Early?, Familia not balking, No DL for Lagares, DeGrom impressive, despite no wins yet, Eveland on the way...

Mets News and Notes:

Mets Scolded for Leaving Field Early?
The Mets knew they would prevail in a challenge, but they still were not supposed to leave the field. And they got a tongue-lashing as a result.

In Saturday's 14-inning win over the Phillies, second-base umpire Doug Eddings ruled Domonic Brown safe on a two-out steal attempt in the bottom of the fifth.

Mets manager Terry Collins challenged the ruling. And once the Mets saw the replay on the scoreboard and concluded they were in the right, they left the field, even though the umpiring crew had yet to formally reverse the safe call.

“They scolded me,” Collins said. “I took it like a man, like I always do. It’s not the first. It won’t be the last. [The players] just saw the replay on the board so they came off the field. They’re supposed to stay on the field. They’ve been out there so much they want to get off.”

Familia Not Balking
Mets manager Terry Collins and pitching coach Dan Warthen got into an animated discussion with the umpiring crew after Saturday's 14-inning win over the Phillies. And it's a discussion they have had before.

The Mets repeatedly have been told that an aspect of Jeurys Familia's delivery involving his right leg can be considered a balk. The Mets continue to counter that it's part of Familia's natural delivery and therefore permissible.

“It’s part of his delivery that he does that they said it almost can constitute a balk at times,” Collins said. “I told them, ‘You’re the 10th umpire that’s talked about it.’ Nobody has ever called it. So we’ll let it roll.”

No DL for Lagares
Mets manager Terry Collins does not expect Juan Lagares to be in the lineup Sunday, but also does not expect the standout center fielder to land on the disabled list.

Lagares was scratched from Saturday’s start shortly before the first pitch with a right rib-cage injury, which the Mets are calling a spasm. The injury is toward the back of the rib cage, not in the side area which can be particularly problematic when swinging.

“He did a lot of treatment during the game,” Collins said. “In about the 12th [inning] he went in the cage to try to swing and still felt it. So I said stop swinging.”

Lagares eventually entered as a pinch hitter and delivered a sacrifice bunt in the 14th. Collins said he would have told Lagares to bunt for a base hit and not swing had he been pinch hitting with no one on base.

“I felt it a little bit last night,” Lagares said. “And today, when I was in the cage, I felt the same. It’s just a little bit in the back of my rib cage. ... I know it’s nothing bad. I was ready to go today, and they decided to give me the day.”

DeGrom Impressive, despite no wins yetJacob deGrom has a 2.42 ERA through four major league starts. He still does not have a win to show for his efforts.

DeGrom departed with a one-run lead in the seventh inning Saturday at Citizens Bank Park, but suffered a no-decision when Jeurys Familia failed to close the game in the bottom of the ninth. The Mets ultimately won, 5-4, in 14 innings, with deGrom insisting afterward that he is not disappointed to remain winless in his career.

DeGrom and Ron Darling are the only players in franchise history to open a career with four quality starts and no wins to show for it.

Eveland on the way....
After playing 10 extra innings over the past two games, the New York Mets will summon left-hander Dana Eveland from Triple-A Las Vegas as a bullpen reinforcement for Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Eveland, 30, last appeared in the majors in 2012 with the Baltimore Orioles.

He was 4-1 with a 3.91 ERA in 12 appearances (eight starts) for Vegas. He last pitched Tuesday, when he logged five innings at El Paso.

The Mets did not announce a corresponding move. ESPN says one option is dropping Buddy Carlyle, despite the veteran right-hander tossing three scoreless innings and earning his first win since 2008 in Saturday's 5-4, 14-inning victory against the Phillies. Lagares could also go on the DL, but it sounds like he is OK as reported above..